Award-winning author Tom Angleberger flexes his comic muscle in this hairy adventure story with twists at every turn.
Regular kid Lenny Flem Jr. is the only one standing between his evil-genius best friend—Casper, a master of disguise and hypnosis—and world domination. It all begins when Casper spends money from his granny on a spectacularly convincing fake mustache, the Heidelberg Handlebar #7. With it he’s able rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president. Is Lenny the only one who can see through his disguise? And will he be able to stop Casper from taking over the world?
Praise for Fake Mustache
“There’s no twist too goofy or absurd as Angleberger pulls out all the stops for this unabashedly silly story.”—Publishers Weekly
"Angleberger’s foot-on-the-floor zaniness helps pull it off, fueled by a steady stream of gags and utter ridiculousness that make Saturday-morning cartoons seem reasonable in comparison. Pure, unfiltered hilarity."
—Booklist
"The 2012 campaign season just got a little hairier. Kids will delight in the various ways in which Casper exploits his power over grownups."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Appropriately goofy."
—The Horn Book
"Angleberger severs all ties with sanity in his latest farce for preteens with hilarious results. There's plenty of action and goofiness. Fans of Angleberger's previous efforts won't be disappointed. Total deadpan lunacy."
—Kirkus Reviews
"This is a cute, although improbable, story about two best friends, Lenny and Casper, who live in the small town of Hairsprinkle.. Jodie brings many positive traits of a strong, female hero."
—Library Media Connection
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Publishers Weekly
If the Origami Yoda books hint that Angleberger is just a kid at heart, this madcap adventure seals the deal. Set in the town of Hairsprinkle, it stars seventh-grader Lenny Flem Jr., whose life is upended when his best friend, Casper Bengue, buys a fancy suit and an expensive fake mustache: the Heidelberg Handlebar #7. Soon after, billion-dollar robberies start occurring in Hair-sprinkle, and a mysterious man named Fako Mustacho is quickly becoming a local celebrity—one with major political aspirations. Lenny is sure Casper is behind it all, but with the population under the spell of Fako Mustacho’s fabulous mustache, it’s up to Lenny and TV star Jodie O’Rodeo (think Hannah Montana crossed with Sandy the squirrel from SpongeBob SquarePants) to save the day. And, naturally, a crisis caused by a fake mustache can only be fixed with gag items like a Nasal Gun and an Ultra-Sticky-Stretchy Grabber Hand. There’s no twist too goofy or absurd as Angle-berger pulls out all the stops for this unabashedly silly story. Ages 8–12. Agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (May)
Children's Literature - Krisan Murphy
Set in the town of Hairsprinkle, U.S.A., this hilarious, ridiculous, and entertaining tale will make you suspicious of short men in handlebar mustaches and an admirer of sticky, stretchy grabber hands. When Lenny Flem, Jr., and Casper Bengue shop at Sven's Fair Price Store they not only spend all $400 of Casper's birthday money from his grandmother on a man-about-town suit complemented by a Heidelberg Handlebar Mustache #7, but they also buy more mystery and trouble than either of them anticipated. Coincidentally, after Casper dons his suit and faux facial hair, robberies break out all over town. Lenny finds himself in a quandary when Casper (a.k.a. Fako Mustacho) accuses him of the crimes. Even more formidable, Lenny must find a way to overthrow the unjust election of Fako for President of the United States. With the help of has-been television star, Jodie O'Rodeo, and sticky-hand inventor, Hank Heidelberg, all is not lost. Thanks to the outrageous events, the courageous heroine, Jodie O'Rodeo, helps Lenny win the day, returning her to stardom. All sixty-four very short chapters are filled with lively illustrations and an action-packed plot. Reviewer: Krisan Murphy
School Library Journal
Gr 3–6—Be prepared for a wacky romp as seventh-grader Casper Bengue uses a hypnotic, brainwashing fake mustache to try to take over the world. The town of Hairsprinkle, its mayor, and finally the United Sates fall under his spell. The only people standing between Casper (now called Fako Mustacho) and his path to world domination are his former friend Lenny and canceled preteen television star Jodie O'Rodeo. Angleberger keeps the action moving as Lenny and Jodie escape Fako's brainwashed goons in a novelty factory full of wigs, confetti, and enough fake snot to keep kids involved. Humorous full-page black-and-white art is scattered throughout. A quick, fun read and first purchase for libraries, especially where the author's "Origami Yoda" series (Abrams) is popular.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA
Kirkus Reviews
Can one nerdy teen keep a tuft of fake lip-hair from realizing its dream of world domination? Seventh grader Lenny Flem Jr. leads a mild-mannered life hanging out with his best friend, Casper, and watching repeats of the now-cancelled Jodie O'Rodeo Showdeo with his parents and sisters (he will never admit that he likes it). Then Casper, whose hippie parents never buy anything unnecessary, gets a wad of cash from his grandmother, and he uses it to purchase a man-about-town suit and the very expensive Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven (a real-hair fake mustache). Soon after, the robberies begin. Billions are stolen by, first, a gang of strolling accordion players and then a bunch of school librarians. Both groups are led by a mysterious, short suited man with a mustache. Then Fako Mustacho, businessman-about-town appears and holds the town of Hairsprinkle in his thrall. Only Lenny and the real Jodie O'Rodeo seem immune from his mesmeric spell, so it's up to them to stop Fako's grab for presidential power! Angleberger severs all ties with sanity in his latest farce for preteens with hilarious results. Narration is shared by Lenny, a nerdy everyman hero, and Jodie, a thinly disguised Hannah Montana. There's plenty of action and goofiness with very little room for explanations. Fans of Angleberger's previous efforts won't be disappointed. Total deadpan lunacy. (Fiction. 9-12)
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